Nature ReserveDead SeaEst. 1972

Ein Gedi Nature Reserve

עין גדי

Ein Gedi is the largest oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea and one of Israel's most important nature reserves. Fed by freshwater springs, the reserve harbors a unique ecosystem of desert and tropical species existing side by side. Two main canyons — Wadi David and Wadi Arugot — cut through the Judean Desert cliffs, creating lush corridors of vegetation, waterfalls, and natural pools amid the arid landscape. The reserve is home to Nubian ibex herds, rock hyraxes, leopards, and over 200 bird species.

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TijsB from Den Haag (The Hague), The Netherlands (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Biblical Significance

Ein Gedi is mentioned repeatedly in the Bible. David hid from King Saul in the caves above Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 23:29–24:1). The Song of Songs references 'the vineyards of Ein Gedi' (Song of Songs 1:14). The prophet Ezekiel envisioned fishermen standing beside the Dead Sea at Ein Gedi (Ezekiel 47:10).

Park Highlights

David's Waterfall — 30-meter cascade in Wadi David
Wadi Arugot — longer, less crowded trail with Hidden Waterfall
Nubian ibex herds grazing on the cliffs
Ancient synagogue with stunning mosaic floor
Ein Gedi Botanical Garden (adjacent kibbutz)

An Oasis at the Lowest Place on Earth

Ein Gedi sits at approximately 400 meters below sea level, near the shore of the Dead Sea — the lowest point on the Earth's surface. The springs that feed the reserve emerge from the Judean Desert cliffs after traveling underground from the Hebron hills to the west. This water creates an ecological island: tropical species like Sodom's apple and salvadora persist here at latitudes far north of their normal range, while Mediterranean plants survive in the canyon shade. The result is a biodiversity hotspot in the middle of one of the driest deserts in the world — a place where you can stand in desert heat and watch a waterfall cascade into a pool shaded by tropical trees.

David, Saul, and the Caves of Ein Gedi

The story of David and Saul at Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 24) is one of the Bible's most dramatic and intimate narratives. Saul, consumed with jealousy, was hunting David with 3,000 soldiers. David and his men were hiding deep in one of the caves above the springs when Saul entered the same cave. David's men urged him to kill the king, but David refused — instead secretly cutting a corner of Saul's robe. He later revealed himself and held up the cloth, saying, 'See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you.' The caves above Ein Gedi are still visible today, and the landscape remains essentially unchanged since the days of David.

Wildlife of the Judean Desert

The Nubian ibex is the star of Ein Gedi — magnificent wild goats with long, ridged curved horns that navigate the sheer cliff faces with astonishing agility. Herds routinely walk within meters of hikers on the trail to David's Waterfall. Rock hyraxes — plump, guinea pig-like mammals that are, improbably, the elephant's closest living relative — bask on sunny rocks near the trailhead. The reserve also shelters one of the last populations of Arabian leopard in Israel, though these critically endangered cats are almost never seen. Over 200 bird species have been recorded, including Tristram's starling (with its striking orange wing patches) and fan-tailed ravens riding the thermals above the cliffs.